Vice President Prof. Jane Naana Opoku‑Agyemang has urged Ghana to adopt a long‑term national development plan anchored by strong monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, stressing that short‑term approaches cannot deliver sustainable progress.
She emphasized the need for a shared national vision with measurable milestones to guide the country’s trajectory. Speaking on The KSM Show on Friday, August 7, 2026, Prof. Opoku‑Agyemang argued that Ghana must move beyond short‑term planning and embrace a strategic vision that transcends political cycles. “Where are you now? And where do you think we should get to in 30 years? You need long‑term planning. Short‑term thinking is not helping us,” she said.
The Vice President proposed a 30‑year national development framework, broken into achievable five‑, six‑, or ten‑year targets, supported by shorter‑term benchmarks to track implementation. “Let us envision Ghana in 30 years. Let’s all agree that wherever we are, it’s fine, but we can do better. And that in 30 years, we should get to the good,” she added.
She explained that dividing long‑term goals into smaller, measurable objectives would make it easier to monitor progress, identify challenges early, and adjust strategies as needed. “So, what steps should we put in place now to ensure that in five years, we are at this place? And that is why you need the proper monitoring and evaluation,” she said.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said annual and even six-month targets should be established to determine whether development plans remain on track. “For the first six months, where should we be? And what do you need to put in place for the realization of the six-month objective?” she asked.
She likened national development to a long journey that requires continuous assessment to determine whether the country is progressing at the desired pace. “By the second or third week or the third month in the first six months, you have to start your, ‘Hey, where are we at? Are we going to make it? Are we slow? Are we fast?’ And so on and so forth,” she said.
The Vice President stressed that long-term national planning must be inclusive and driven by broad public consensus rather than the views of a few government officials. “This is not something you do on your desk. You feel that you are so right, everybody is wrong. That’s not going to work,” she said.
Source: William Narh
